Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTSSea lice is one of the biggest problems in aquaculture on Norwegian and European coasts. To combat it, the fish are treated with delousing bath treatments on a pharmaceutical basis on board service boats (wellboats) and/or in the cage cultures. The wastewater is then discharged back into the sea together with the remaining drugs or by-products. Some of these released chemicals are harmful to the aquatic environment and promote the occurrence of drug-resistant sea lice.
This research project therefore aims to develop an environmentally friendly treatment process in which the pharmaceuticals and their by-products are removed/neutralized from the delousing wastewater on site and the wastewater is only discharged into the sea in tested quality.
The work of Fraunhofer IKTS focuses on the design, construction and testing of a plasmonic sensor for real-time monitoring of water treatment on site on the wellboat or at the pen. The sensor consists of a nanostructured gold surface embedded in a microfluidic and optical system. Two bioassays based on antibodies are being developed to detect two sea lice agents. The gold layer is biofunctionalized in order to bind sea lice agents from the passing water to the gold layer. The change in the refractive index triggered by the binding of the analyte changes the transmission properties of the gold layer and can thus be detected. This sensor is integrated into the wastewater treatment system and its function is tested in laboratory and real conditions on board.
Funding body: Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy
Funding reference: 03SX577B
Project period: 1.11.2022-31.10.2025
Project partner:
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA)
- Hydac Process Technology GmbH
- Norwegian Coastal Shipowners - Kystrederiene (TWOA)
- Norwegian Greentech AS
- Pharmaq AS, part of Zoetis Therapeutic R&D
- Aqua Pharma Belgium